Katelyn...

[MyLittleBoo]

Ok, here it is..  Very long!!  Katelyn had her first appointment with Shriner's this morning..   Come to find out that is not an extra bone in her back...  Nope, it is in fact her spine!!!   She is missing half of a vertabrae (L3)..  She will have surgery in the Spring to remove L3 and fuse L1,2-4 together..  It will be a 4 hour surgery and she will be in the hospital for 5-7 days...  She is excited as well as scared, still not as worried as her mom, though..                :xfinger:        When she was 5 her curve was at 25 degrees, it is now 68 degrees..   Not only is it curved, it is twisted also...    Here are a couple pictures I took of the X-ray today...  Hope you can see them well enough, I fixed them up as good as I could...  I still can't believe it got soooo bad, so quickly...   We go back for a MRI on the 7th of next month...   Oh, and the Dr. said we could expect only a 25% correction, if they try anymore than that it will paralyze her...   Please keep Katelyn in your thoughts & prayers...   Thank you all soooo much for being here for us...    Hugs to you all....     

[Teresa]

The xrays are unbelievable. I'm sure you couldn't believe them either when you saw them. It's so different to see it on film and not just looking at her.
Will doing the surgery help her with the pain she has been having? I would think it should help, especially correcting 25% of the curve. Also, I would think that after the surgery the curve wouldn't get worse again.
The Shriners hospital docs do some incredible work. She will be getting the best of care. I'm sure she is scared, who wouldn't be, but I know she has to be excited, to. Do you have a definite date, or will they set it up after the MRI?
I'm glad you have an answer and a solution. That is a great Christmas gift to all of you.

[Madderoos Mom]

I think I might have missed the news about Katelyn (one of my favorite names).  I sure hope this upcoming surgery helps her.  Praying for success!  I'm sorry I miss the first post.

Sandi

[cheryl186]

Tara, how exciting for you all to have a definite answer on what they can do for Katelyn.  And I know it is scary too with the surgery and all but I know everything will be just fine.   :thumb: The x-rays are astonishing....and I too wanna know if the surgery will stop the curve from ever getting worse again.  Praying for successful outcome!  And keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers

[doxielady5569128]

I'm glad the Shriners can help Katelyn.   I'm sure the surgery will go just fine and you'll have nothing to worry about.  The Shriners have some of the best doctors in the world!    We'll be praying for Katelyn and the rest of your family.     

[TerriL]

Hey Tara, I'm so glad to hear that they have determined what the problem is.  I know that you must be worried sick about the surgery and trying to keep your spirits up for Katelyn.  Please feel free to email me or call if you need to talk or cry or vent or whatever.  It is so terrible to see your child have to go through this sort of thing.  Try to take it a bit easy during the holidays and enjoy as much as you can. Hugs to you my dear.  You are all in my prayers! 

[JetEd73]

God bless you and keep you both.

I would expect that the Shriners have some of the best doctors in the field. They are at the top of their game.

[MyLittleBoo]

Thank you all for the well wishes for Katelyn..   The Dr. went into alot of detail yesterday..  After surgery her curve will not get any worse (thank goodness), it will be about 1-2 years before she is back to 100%, just so many things he explained that were never explained before..  We have a wonderful Dr.!!  He is retired (part-time), he not only works at Shriner's, but his son (I think, maybe daughter), had this same problem, he also works at a facility where they are trying to find a way to test for this during pregnancy and try to prevent it...        :apls:        Quite the guy!!  And, already we loved his bedside manner, he is very kind..  Her surgery may not be at Shriner's as that won't be until late next summer, they will probably do the surgery at Primary Children's, which will be in early spring (will still be at no cost to us), keep her overnight there, then transport her back to Shriner's the next morning by ambulance...  I just can't believe the distance he is willing to go for us!!  It completely terrified me when I saw the x-ray yesterday...  It just breaks my heart!!   As, you said Terri, I am definately worried sick, but try (in front of Katelyn & the other kids) to keep my spirits high..  I have broke down a few times in privacy, but try not to in front of my family...  We will definately enjoy our holiday season this year and be very thankful that we have each other, no matter what happens...  I just hate seeing my little girl in pain and everything she is going through...   And, I am now more than ever (excuse my french) pissed at the Dr.'s that told us she'd be ok...   I just want to yell and scream at them, call them every name I can possibly think of to call them...   But, I know that won't help me or make me feel any better...  I'm just so angry with them, knowing that had we done something sooner, we would have more than a 25% correction...  But, that will help her now, and there is nothing we can do about the past...   But, like I said it breaks my heart...   I don't even want to imagine what I'll be like during the 4 hours she will be in surgery or even after that...   AHHHH!!!   Thanks again to you all!!!  You guys are so great!!  Hugs & Love~

[Frankys_mom]

sending lots of rays and strenght your way.  Sounds like your Dr is AWESOME!

[PattyInAK]

Are the x-rays we are seeing a front view?  It looks like it would be very painful.
Yikes.  I wish you all the success in the world with this surgery next spring. 

[Brekkesmom]

Whoa!  Rays on the way for Katelyn and prayers for extra special guidance from above as the surgery is performed!  Gearing up to send healing rays when surgery is finished!    for you and your family during these times...

[Dee Dee and Hallie]

That is great news they can get a 25% correction! I agree...those  Drs who said she'd be ok and sent you on your way...what is wrong with Drs sometimes. They pass things off so easily...but you now have a great Dr it sounds like and that is half the battle! Those Xrays are really something else, does she have pain with this? So they can correct the curvature by 25% but how will that translate into how she feels? You are a great Mom Tara, you have to let go of the past (Drs) make peace with that, and just look ahead to get you and Katelyn through this surgery and on to better health! You will get through this.

[Guinness]

So my questions are:

Does she get a 25% total correction, which leaves her with 43% curve, or does she get 25% of 68% which leaves her with 51% curve?

Will the remaining curve be permanent?

Are her growth plates closed?

Auntie Karen :scratch: